State remedy for abandoned homes

[lin_video src=http://eplayer.clipsyndicate.com/embed/player.js?aspect_ratio=16×9&auto_next=1&auto_start=0&div_id=videoplayer-1370485162&height=480&page_count=5&pf_id=9624&show_title=1&va_id=4085830&width=640&windows=2 service=syndicaster width=640 height=480 div_id=videoplayer-1370485162 type=script]JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT) – Governor Bentley signed legislation Wednesday which will help rid Birmingham of many blighted properties once and for all.

The land banking bill gives the city more power in dealing with abandoned properties which might otherwise have sat here decaying for years. Mayor Bell says he doesn’t just want to demolish every building. The idea is to rehab and re-use.

Residents hope the to see neighborhoods revitalized and jobs created.

Faheem Halsom, “It would be great , we looked at a couple of homes in the community some can be rebuilt up ”

Although construction worker Faheem Halsom cringes that someone spray painted numbers on the brick façade of the home he is rehabbing, he says like many of the properties left empty, it needs minor repairs for someone to move back into it.

Neighbor Freddy Lampley built his home in Pratt City 39 years ago and wants to see buildings repaired and torn down.

Lampley says, “It would help a whole lot, the neighborhood will look better and we’ll be glad when they begin to do it. ”

Mayor Bell says it benefits the city to re-purpose homes since the city gets federal dollars based on both population and structures.